Thumb for an Excavator Machine with Structure Support

Abstract

A counteracting thumb for an implement of a machine may include first and second structure support plates each having first and second planar portions connected by an intermediate curved portion to orient the planar portions at an obtuse angle relative to each other. A first end edge of the first plate may be connected to an inner surface of the second plate proximate a first end edge of the second plate, and second end edge of the second plate may be connected to an inner surface of the first plate proximate a second end edge of the first plate. Side plates of the thumb may be connected to an outer surface of the first plate, and teeth of the thumb may be connected to an outer surface of the second plate.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A support structure for connecting two components together, comprising:
 a first plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, an outer surface having a convex curvature as the outer surface extends from the first end edge to the second end edge, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface; and   a second plate having oppositely disposed first and second end edges, an outer surface having a convex curvature as the outer surface extends from the first end edge to the second end edge, and an inner surface opposite the outer surface, the first and second plates connected and overlapping at opposite ends so that the first end edge of the second plate extends beyond the first end edge of the first plate and the second end edge of the first plate extends beyond the second end edge of the second plate.   
     
     
         22 . The support structure of  claim 21 , with the first end edge of the first plate connected to the inner surface of the second plate, and the second end edge of the second plate connected to the inner surface of the first plate. 
     
     
         23 . The support structure of  claim 21 , with the first end edge of the first plate being connected to the inner surface of the second plate proximate the first end edge of the second plate, the second end edge of the second plate being connected to the inner surface of the first plate proximate the second end edge of the first plate. 
     
     
         24 . The support structure of  claim 21 , with each of the first and second plates comprising a first planar portion extending inwardly from the first end edge and a second planar portion extending inwardly from the second end edge, the first planar portion and the second planar portion being oriented with respect to each other at an obtuse angle. 
     
     
         25 . The support structure of  claim 24 , with the obtuse angles between the first planar portion and second planar portion of each of the first and second plates being approximately 120°. 
     
     
         26 . The support structure of  claim 24 , with dimensions of the first planar portion of the first plate being equal to dimensions of the second planar portion of the second plate, dimensions of the second planar portion of the first plate being equal to dimensions of the first planar portion of the second plate, and the obtuse angle of the first plate being equal to the obtuse angle of the second plate. 
     
     
         27 . The support structure of  claim 24 , with each of the first and plates comprising an intermediate curved portion between the first and second planar portions having a center of a radius of curvature of the intermediate curved portion and orienting the first and second planar portions at the obtuse angle, and with a first line connecting the centers of the radiuses of curvature of the intermediate curved portions being approximately perpendicular to a second line drawn through the points of contact between the first end edge of the first plate and the second plate and the second end edge of the second plate and the first plate. 
     
     
         28 . The support structure of  claim 24 , wherein a length of the first planar portion of the first plate from the first end edge toward the second planar portion is less than a length of the second planar portion of the first plate from the second end edge toward the first planar portion, and a length of the first planar portion of the second plate from the first end edge toward the second planar portion is greater than a length of the second planar portion of the second plate from the second end edge toward the first planar portion. 
     
     
         29 . A structure support for connecting two components together, comprising:
 a first plate comprising:
 a first plate first planar portion having a first plate first end edge, and 
 a first plate second planar portion having a first plate second end edge, wherein the first plate first planar portion extends inwardly from the first plate first end edge toward the first plate second planar portion and the first plate second planar portion extends inwardly from the first plate second end edge toward the first plate first planar portion, and wherein the first plate first planar portion and the first plate second planar portion are oriented with respect to each other at a first plate obtuse angle; and 
   a second plate comprising:
 a second plate first planar portion having a second plate first end edge, and 
 a second plate second planar portion having a second plate second end edge, wherein the second plate first planar portion extends inwardly from the second plate first end edge toward the second plate second planar portion and the second plate second planar portion extends inwardly from the second plate second end edge toward the second plate first planar portion, and wherein the second plate first planar portion and the second plate second planar portion are oriented with respect to each other at a second plate obtuse angle, 
   wherein the first plate and the second plate are connected and overlap at opposite ends so that the second plate first end edge extends beyond the first plate first end edge and the first plate second end edge extends beyond the second plate second end edge.   
     
     
         30 . The structure support of  claim 29 , wherein the first plate first end edge is connected to a second plate inner surface, and the second plate second end edge is connected to a first plate inner surface. 
     
     
         31 . The structure support of  claim 29 , wherein the first plate first end edge is connected to the second plate inner surface proximate the second plate first end edge, and the second plate second end edge is connected to the first plate inner surface proximate the first plate second end edge. 
     
     
         32 . The structure support of  claim 29 , wherein the first plate obtuse angle is equal to the second plate obtuse angle. 
     
     
         33 . The structure support of  claim 29 , wherein the first plate obtuse angle and the second plate obtuse angle are approximately 120°. 
     
     
         34 . The structure support of  claim 29 , wherein dimensions of the first plate first planar portion are equal to dimensions of the second plate second planar portion, dimensions of the first plate second planar portion are equal to dimensions of the second plate first planar portion, and the first plate obtuse angle is equal to the second plate obtuse angle. 
     
     
         35 . The structure support of  claim 29 , wherein the first plate comprises a first plate intermediate curved portion having a first radius of curvature disposed between the first plate first planar portion and the first plate second planar portion, and wherein the second plate comprises a second plate intermediate curved portion having a second radius of curvature disposed between the second plate first planar portion and the second plate second planar portion. 
     
     
         36 . The structure support of  claim 35 , wherein a first line connecting a first center of the first radius of curvature and a second center of the second radius of curvature is approximately perpendicular to a second line drawn through a first point of contact between the first plate first end edge and the second plate and a second point of contact between the second plate second end edge and the first plate. 
     
     
         37 . The structure support of  claim 29 , wherein a length of the first plate planar portion from the first plate first end edge toward the first plate second planar portion is less than a length of the first plate second planar portion from the first plate second end edge toward the first plate first planar portion, and a length of the second plate first planar portion from the second plate first end edge toward the second plate second planar portion is greater than a length of the second plate second planar portion from the second plate second end edge toward the second plate first planar portion.